18. lis 2026.

Celta vs Alavés pregame: stats and Sofascore Rating

Celta Vigo welcome Deportivo Alavés to Estadio Abanca Balaídos with both sides looking to shape their LaLiga 26/27 paths. It’s a meeting of contrasting styles and similar ambitions, set in a venue that has seen plenty of swings in this matchup. You can follow the live match page on Sofascore, and keep an eye on the wider picture in the LaLiga standings and form tables.

Claudio Giráldez’s Celta have kept things tidy so far, while Quique Sánchez Flores’ Alavés bring more direct punch and a stubborn back line. It sets up a clean, numbers-driven contest that appeals to stat-minded fans and neutrals alike.

Form guide and context at Balaídos

Celta arrive with balance: 8 goals scored and only 6 conceded across eight league matches, built on 4 clean sheets and steady possession around 50%. Their pass accuracy sits at 87.17%, a sign they can control tempo, but chance conversion still has room to grow. Celta’s xG of 7.46 closely mirrors their output, and they have created 13 big chances yet missed nine, a theme they will hope to correct at home. The recent trend leans low-scoring, with fewer than 2.5 goals in 6 of Celta’s 8. They also mix their shooting profile well, splitting attempts almost evenly from inside and outside the box.

Alavés have scored 12 and conceded 8, with an xG of 10.22 supporting a solid attacking base. They average 41% possession but use it efficiently: 95 shots, 34 on target, and 19 big chances created. Three clean sheets reflect improved organization, while their duel numbers and 155 tackles point to an assertive out-of-possession plan. The small caveat is form: the away side carry a streak of four matches without a win, something Sánchez Flores will want to fix quickly. Both teams trend towards compact matches, and that should keep margins fine at Balaídos.

Head-to-head trends and what they mean

Recent history tilts in Celta’s favor, with the team duel showing 6 wins for the hosts, 2 for Alavés, and 2 draws over the latest batch of meetings. That said, the last clash in Vigo finished 3-4 to Alavés, a sharp reminder that this fixture can break script. Alavés are also without a clean sheet in the past four head-to-heads, a data point that offers Celta confidence in the final third. The rivalry has often been tight on set-piece volume, with fewer than 10.5 corners in 9 of the last 10 encounters.

Cards can trend upward here: 7 of the past 9 head-to-head meetings saw more than 4.5 cards, which suggests an edge in the duels and territorial battles. Celta’s ability to manage risk at the back, combined with Alavés’ direct routes to goal, usually creates fast transitions and recovery runs. Expect moments for both strikers and fullbacks to define territory. Overall, it’s a matchup where first goal impact is high and game states shift quickly.

Tactical outlook and likely lineups

On the tactical board, Celta are listed in a 3-4-3 shape, which helps them build cleanly and attack wide through the wing-backs. Iago Aspas remains a reliable focal point between lines, with Ferrán Jutglà working off defensive shoulders and Javi Galán pushing for width. Álvaro Núñez and Yoel Lago bring steady distribution from deep, while Ionuț Radu has offered security in goal. Celta’s work rate is notable, with 853.32 kilometers covered and 776 sprints so far, reflecting a side willing to press and recycle possession.

Alavés are set in a 5-3-2, with Lucas Boyé and Toni Martínez leading the line and Denis Suárez, Antonio Blanco, and Pablo Ibáñez controlling midfield distances. The back five of Jonny Otto, Nahuel Tenaglia, Nicolás Valentini and Ville Koski provides aerial strength and clearances, a key against Celta’s crossing patterns. As always, listed lineups are subject to late changes, but the shapes underline the themes: Celta to circulate and combine, Alavés to compress space and strike when the lanes open.

Notable absentees: for Celta, Borja Iglesias (F, Calf Injury), Carl Starfelt (D, Hamstring Injury), Jones El-Abdellaoui (F, Knee Injury), Miguel Román (M, Knee Surgery), and Pablo Durán (F, Thigh Injury) are out. For Alavés, Ángel Pérez (M, red card suspension), Facundo Garcés (D, Cruciate Ligament Injury), and Mikel Rodriguez (M, Cruciate Ligament Injury) will miss out. These omissions shape squad depth and bench options more than the basic setup.

Key numbers: goals, xG, pressing and passing

Production vs. expectation is tightly aligned on both sides. Celta’s 8 goals match an xG of 7.46, while Alavés’ 12 goals are a touch above their 10.22 xG. Celta have 79 total shots with 26 on target, and they’ve split attempts equally inside and outside the box. Alavés have been more volume-driven, with 95 shots and 34 on target, and 57 efforts from inside the box. Those figures point to Alavés getting bodies into prime spaces and Celta trusting their structure to create clearer looks.

Passing patterns are distinct. Celta have completed 3,566 of 4,091 passes at 87.17% accuracy and 50% average possession, while Alavés sit at 2,060 accurate passes out of 2,601 (79.20%) with 41% possession. In wide delivery, Celta have 96 total crosses but only 18 accurate, whereas Alavés land 38 from 138. The duels are close to even for both teams, but Alavés’ 840 total duels and 155 tackles underline their physical baseline.

Pročitaj sljedeće

Juventus 2-2 Stade Rennais: penalties at both ends and Al‑Tamari’s sparkJuventus and Stade Rennais shared a 2-2 in Turin, with penalties for both sides and Mousa Al-Tamari starring. Dive into xG, shots and key stats.

Goalkeeper form stands out. Ionuț Radu has made 23 saves and posted 1.59 goals prevented, a positive signal heading into a meeting with high shot volume. Antonio Sivera has 28 saves, a 77.78% save rate, and 0.67 goals prevented, plus a penalty save and strong high-claim numbers. Corners could play a role given Celta’s 25 and Alavés’s 30 so far. And if a transition footrace breaks out, expect Toni Martínez’s top speed of 36.19 km/h and Marcos Alonso’s 36.00 km/h to show up on your timeline.

Players to watch on Sofascore

Miguel Román is Celta’s featured player in the data thanks to a 7.31 Sofascore Rating this season, built on 1 goal, 2 assists, 7 key passes and 367 accurate passes at 88.22%. He also averages 11.34 kilometers covered per 90 and has logged 24 accurate long balls at a strong 77.42% clip. However, Román is unavailable due to knee surgery, so his influence will be felt in absentia rather than on the ball. In his stead, eyes naturally turn to Iago Aspas’s movement and Jutglà’s finishing, while Hugo González’s 9 key passes and 3 goal involvements provide creativity from midfield.

For Alavés, Antonio Sivera headlines with a 7.33 Sofascore Rating across eight matches. He has 28 saves, 3 clean sheets, a 77.78% save percentage, and a 50% record on penalties faced this season. Sivera’s distribution also matters in their build and counters, with 70 accurate long balls and one assist plus a big chance created. Ahead of him, Lucas Boyé’s 5 goals and Mariano Díaz’s 3 goals and 3 assists supply cutting edge, especially when Alavés break quickly into the channels.

Track live momentum swings, Sofascore Rating changes and player maps on the Sofascore match page once the whistle goes. With Celta’s control and Alavés’s direct threat, this one should stay honest to the numbers.